Remote operated toggle actuated gate



Nov. 29, 1955 J. c. LEARY 2,724,916

REMOTE OPERATED TOGGLE ACTUATED GATE Filed July 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. JOSEPH C. ZIEARI ATTOFNEK Nov. 29, 1955 J. c. LEARY REMOTE OPERATED TOGGLE ACTUATED GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1953 United States Patent REMOTE OPERATED TUGGLE ACTUATED GATE Joseph C. Leary, Greenfield, Ind.

Application July 15, 1953, Serial No. 368,119

9 Claims. (Cl. 39-39) The present invention relates to a gate actuating device by which a farm gate, or the like, can be both opened and closed from fairly remote positions on either side of the gate.

On most farms, it is customary to close lanes, drives and roadways by gates as much as twenty feet in length in order to prevent the escape of livestock, but which will, at the same time, permit the passage of very large trucks and wagons loaded with the usual farm material such as machinery, feeds, and the like. It is conventional practice in some localities to use a plurality of Wagons in tandem when transporting hay, for instance, from the field to a storage place. When approaching a closed gate it is necessary for the operator to stop his conveyance short of the gate, walk to the gate and open it, drive his vehicle through the gate far enough to permit its closing, walk back to the gate and close it, and return to his vehicle; all requiring a considerable expenditure of time and effort.

It is, therefore, the primary object of my invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism, which can be easily installed on a conventional farm gate, and by which the gate can be both opened and closed from remote stations on either side of the gate. It is a further object to include, in such a mechanism, latching means for the gate by which the gate will be positively held in both its open and closed positions, such latching means being operable upon operation of the gate actuating mechanism from such remote stations.

A further object is to provide a novel form of operating station whereby a decided mechanical advantage can be had, when needed, to operate the gate actuating mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of latching means for the gate which can be operated either through operation of the gate actuating mechanism, as mentioned above, or independently of such mechanism, at the option of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide safety means, in conjunction with the latching means, which will prevent the accidental unlatching of the gate, especially by hogs and other livestock rooting about and nudging the gate.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a conventional gate shown in its closed position and showing my actuating device associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gate in its open position showing the actuating mechanism associated therewith,

2,724,916 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 together with one of the operating stations locatedat a remote position from the gate on one side thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a mounting detail of the actuating mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a further detail of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the details of the latching means constituting a part of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing one of .the fixed latching plates which cooperates with the latching means shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that I have-shown a more or less conventional farm gate 10 hinged at 11, 11 upon a gate-post 12 for swinging movement between a closed position in cooperation with a first latch-post 13, and an open position in cooperation with a second latch-post 14. On the swinging end of gate 10 I provide latching mechanism, referred to generally by the reference numeral 15, and shown most clearly in Fig. 5. Such mechanism comprises a bracket 16 providing a vertically arranged sleeve 17 in which is reciprocably received a bolt 18 projecting below and above the ends of the sleeve. A coiled spring 19 bears, at one end, against a shoulder 20 carried by bracket 16, and at the other end against a stop carried by bolt 18, here shown in the form of a cotter-pin 21. Thus, it will be seen that the pin 18 is continually urged toward its lowermost or projected position.

A relatively horizontal lever 22 (see also Fig. 1) is supported intermediate its ends from gate 10 upon a horizontal pivot pin 23 substantially perpendicular to the plane of the gate. One end of lever 22 overhangs the upper end of bolt 18 and a strand member 24 connects that end to said upper bolt end. Thus, by depressing the opposite end 25 of lever 22 bolt 18 is moved upwardly toward its retracted position.

Lever 22 is further provided with an arm 26 upstanding near the pivot pin 23, for a purpose later-to become apparent.

From latch-post 13 is supported a latch member referred to generally by the reference numeral 27, and from latchpost 14 is supported a similar, but allochirally related, latch mmeber referred to generally by the reference numeral 28. (See Figs. 2 and 6). Each such latch member comprises a base plate 29 inclined downwardly from its latch-post toward the gate 10, and preferably has a downturned corner 30 at its lowermost end. Near its upper end the plate is provided with a hole or socket 31 and an end wall 32. As gate 10 is swung toward either its open or closed position, the lower end of bolt 18 first strikes the downturned corner 30 of plate 29; as the gate continues to move, the bolt end rides up the inclined plate 29 and, just before the bolt 18 reaches socket 31, the lower end of bolt 18 is moved entirely into the sleeve 17 and the lower end of said sleeve then engages and rides on up the plate 29 thereby supporting that end of the gate on the latch-post. When the bolt 18 reaches socket 31, the lower end thereof drops into the socket. The gate is thereby positively held in either its open orclosed position, and, because of the gate end being supported by the lower end of sleeve 17 resting on plate 29, much of the strain upon the gate post 12 will thereby be relieved, and the gate itself will be protected against eventual sagging.

On farms where hogs are raised, these animals very often root about a gate and it is not uncommon that they actually lift the end of the gate opposite the gate post. Were this to occur with my latch mechanism, thus far described, the bolt end might be lifted out of socket 31 thereby unlatching the gate. I deem it highly desirable,

therefore; that safety means for preventing the unlatching-of the gate in -thismanner beprovided:- To this end,

of gate-102* Near'the upperend-offloor-pl-ate 23, but in a plane spaced upwardly from said plate; I provide a tab 35%] As the bolt:18approachessocketfil; wing member 33 or;34 (depending on'the direetion-of'movement of the gate) will-move beneath-thetab'35'; and the-end of bolt 18 will then drop into'socket 31'. The-end of the gate'cannot then be raised todisengagebolt 18 from the socket. Thebolt itself mustbe-rnoved-upwa:rd-relative to sleeve 17 to unlatch the gate.

Where the wing members 33- and '34' are not used, the endwall- S-Zcan be-so spaced," relative to socket 31, that just as bolt 18 reaches its position in line with "socket 31, sleeve-17 will-strikeend wall 32; therebyarresting movement of gate 101- Where such" wing members are used, they may be-of suchlength that theirfree-encl'will strike end-'wall 32'to arrest gate movement; Ineither case, the gate will be stopped,'--'not by theaction of bolt 18-dropping intosocket 31, but-by-the contact'of sleeve 17 "or the wi n g members with endwall32, Inthis way no shearing force is ever applied to bolt 18';

I prefer to provide a mechanism for operating the gate, the actuation of such, first moving the bolt 18 out of socket'31, and thereafter swinging the gate toward its opposite position. To this end,=l provid'e a'toggle device referred'to generally by the'reference numeral 36 (Figs. land-2); Between gate post 12 andlatch-post 14, I provide an-anchor'post 37 spaced'outof theline through saidposts in the direction opposite gate 10. A'bracket 38 (Figs-.- 1 and-3) is fixed-to the upper rail=of gate mat a point spaced from gate post 12 a distance substantially equal to the distance of anchorpost 37' from the gate post. A pivot pin 39is supported by bracket38-upona substantially-'verticalaxisz As w-ill'be seen from an inspectionof Fig, 3; bracket 38 comprises a pair ofallochirally related side elements 38 and 38 slotted tointerlock at one end and formed to embrace said upper rail and to be clamped thereto by means of a screw-38". At their opposite ends, elements 38- and 38 'are formed so that together they form a tubular-portion-38" substantially axially'parallcl withthe upperrail A rod39; supporting the pin 39- at one end thereof, is inserted through this tubular portion and fixedlyheldtherein by the clamping action-of screw 38. It'j'will be seen that by loosening screw 38 theentire bracket 38- can be rotated about the axis of rail 10" to swingthe' pin 39 from its illustrated position, through'an arc of. 180, to a positionabove the rail'lti', in which pin 39 is substantially axially parallel with its illustrated position, ,or to any intermediate position where said bracket can be held by retightening screw 38'. The opera-tinglevelofthe toggledevice 36, now to be described, can therebysbe, adjusted fora purpose later to become apparent.

One end ofeachof a pair of links 40, .40, is, oscillably receivedon pin'.39,., A pair of substantially vertically coaxialrpivot pins 41,, 4-1- are fixed on anchor post- 37 and oscillably support one end each of a second-pair of-links 42,. 42,, Afurthertpiyot'pin, 43 pivotally; .connects the opposite; ends- ,oflinks 40,and;42.; Because ofthe par-,

ticular-mannerin which pin 39 isrsupported on gate It); as described above, -the;-pins 41,.41; can beraisedlsomerwhat above their-illustratedposition in ordenthat the toggledevice 36=will 'clear 'the upperfence strand, orin order to facilitate the use-of-barbed-wire strands (notshow-n along the top-ofthe fence.-

Iournalled upon pin 43 is a bell-crank member 44. When thegate -isin its closed position,- as illustrated in Fig.: 1 ('and'in: dotted lines in Fig. 2) the'arms 45 and 46 ofmember- 44 diverge-away; from pin 43- on opposite sides ofl links 40, 40 whereby the bell-crank member, can be moyedzabout piyotpin'43' to move the end of arm 46 to- 4'; ward pivot pin 39, and the end of arm substantially in the-direction ofv gate-post 12,

A bracket 47 is fixed upon gate-post 12 and supports, at its lower end, a guide means, here shown in the form of a pulley 48. The bracket preferably carries an arm 49 projecting away from the gate-post in the direction opposite gate 10, and pulley 48 is preferably adjustably supported along the lengthyof said-arm.

Near the upper end of bracket 47 a lever 50 is pivotally mounted near its-midpoint in a substantially vertical line for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis 51. A strand member or cable 52 has one end fixed tothe free end of arm 46 .andthe other end fixed to the lower end of lever. 50, said cable passing over the pulley 48. Due to the particular positioning of the various elements of the device, it will be seen that a cable running directly from the end of arm 46 to pulley 48 would pass fairly close to pivot pin 43, when the gate' is in its-closed position; and that-very slight mechanical advantage would, therefore, be realized. To overcome this disadvantageand thereby greatly increase the mechanical advantage of the mechanism, I

ing directly supported-from that pivot pin by means of a ring 55 (Fig;- 3-) passing through a diametrical perforation-through-thepin.- A cable or strandmember 56 passes: around-pulley 54-=and has one end fixed to the free'endof 'arm 45 and the-other end fixedto the free end of-arm' 26. In order-to insure that no stress is placed on-cable 56, except when required, I prefer to provide a coiled spring-57 having one end fixed near the end of arm 45 and the other end fixed near pivot pin 39, such-as to the ring 55-.

Fromthe lower end of lever 50 a further strand member or cable 58' is led to an operating station, referred to generally by thereference numeral 59, located remote from gate 10; and fromthe upper end of said lever a further cable 60 is led to a similar, but allochirally related, operating station (not shown) on the opposite side of the gate;

Each operating station 59 comprises a'lever 61 pivoted,- intermedi-ate its-ends, for oscillationabout a substantially vertical 'axis- 62. The ends of the respective cables'58 and'60 are adjustably fixed'near the ends of their respective levers 61 remote from the roadway, and the opposite ends of such levers project toward the roadway, as clearly shown-inFig. 2. Bygrasping the near end of arm 61', a person-on the roadway'can swingthat end in the direction-of 'the gate toactuate the operatingmechanism in-amanner shortly to bedescribed. To

do so, however, is somewhat difli'cultwhere the person- To this end,-I provide an arm' 63 fixed at one endto lever 61 near pivot point 62 and projecting. away from said lever in the directionoppositegate 10. A

short length of cable 64 is fixed near the' free-end ofarm 63' and removably supported'at the other end on the endof lever 61 nearest the'roadway. Preferably, I provide a pin inthe said end of lever 61 and fix saidlast end of cable 64uto a short length of flexible tubing 66.. The tubing serves as a handle for gripping cable 64 and can bev telescopically slipped onto pin-65 to support theend of,:cable v64 in a convenient and accessible position to theiroadway.

A person-,wishingto open the, gatevfrom the, seat of a vehicle need only remove the, tubing, 66. and give a slight tug to swing the lever 6-1, about .pivot 62. In ;so doing, lever. 50 isrotated counter-clockwise, as viewedin Fig. 1, thereby exerting a pulling force on cable 52. This, in turn, tends to first rock the" bell-crank member 44 about pivot pin 43 to swing the end of arm 45 thereof away from pulley 54 against the resistance of spring 57. A pulling force is thereby exerted on cable 56 to rock lever 22 about pivot pin 23 to lift bolt 18 out of socket 31. Continued swinging of lever 50 will then move the pivotal connection 43, between links 40 and 42, toward pulley 48. Force is applied continually to so rock lever 50 until pivot pin 43 reaches its position nearest pulley 48. From there on the gate swings under its own momentum to its open position, as shown in Fig. 2, and bolt 18 drops into the socket 31 of the latch member 28 carried by latch-post 14. To close the gate, it is necessary only to repeat the pulling operation on either cable 58 or 60; the rocking of bell-crank 44 first moving bolt 18 out of socket 31 and thereafter swinging the gate toward its closed position with latchpost 13.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a gate post, a first latch post spaced from said gate post, a second latch post equivalently spaced from said gate post in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said first latch post, and a gate hingedly supported from said gate post, of means for controlling the position of the distal end of said gate relative to said latch posts, comprising pivot means carried by said gate on a substantially vertical axis, a first link means having one end pivotally supported on said pivot means, an anchor post located between said gate post and said second latch post and offset, away from said pivot means, beyond a line joining said gate post and said second latch post, a second pivot means supported on a substantially vertical axis from said anchor post substantially at the height of said first pivot means, a second link means having one end pivotally supported on said second pivot means, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the other end of said second link means with the other end of said first link means, a bell crank lever journal mounted on said pivot pin with one arm normally projecting toward said gate post and the other arm normally inclining toward the distal end of said gate, means yieldingly resisting movement of said bell crank lever out of-norrnal position, a lever, means supported from said gate post and supporting said lever for oscillation about an axis intermediate its ends, flexible strand means secured at one end to one arm of said lever, secured at its other end to said other arm of said bell crank lever, and, when said distal end of said gate is near said first latch post, flexed about said one arm of said bell crank lever, a latch keeper carried by said first latch post, a latch keeper carried by said second latch post, a spring-pressed latch carried adjacent the distal end of said gate for alternative cooperation with said latch keepers, and strand means connected with said one arm of said bell crank lever and operatively connected to retract said latch upon movement of said bell crank lever against the tendency of said yieldingly resisting means.

2. The combination with a gate post, a first latch post spaced from said gate post, a second latch post equivalently spaced from said gate post in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said first latch post, and a gate hingedly supported from said gate post, of means for controlling the position of the distal end of said gate relative to said latch posts, comprising pivot means carried by said gate on a substantially vertical axis, a first link means having one end pivotally supported on said pivot means, an anchor post located between said gate post and said second latch post and olfset, away from said pivot means, beyond a line joining said gate post and said second latch post, a second pivot means supported on a substantially vertical axis from said anchor post substantially at the height of said first pivot means, a second link means having one end pivotally supported on said second pivot means, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the other end of said second link means with the other end of said first link means, a bell crank lever journal mounted on said pivot pin with one arm normally projecting toward said gate post and the other arm normally inclining toward the distal end of said gate, means yieldingly resisting movement of said bell crank lever out of normal position, a lever, means supported from said gate post and supporting said lever for oscillation about an axis intermediate its ends, and flexible strand means secured at one end to one arm of said lever, secured at its other end to said other arm of said bell crank lever, and, when said distal end of said gate is near said first latch post, flexed about said one arm of said bell crank lever.

3. The combination with a gate post, a first latch post spaced from said gate post, a second latch post equivalently spaced from said gate post in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said first latch post, and a gate hingedly supported from said gate post, of means for controlling the position of the distal end of said gate relative to said latch posts, comprising pivot means comprising a bracket clamped to said gate for adjustment relative thereto about a horizontal axis parallel with the plane of said gate, said bracket being formed to provide an ofiset socket on an axis substantially parallel with said first-named axis, pivot means comprising a bar adjustably received in said socket and provided with a pin portion having its axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said socket, a first link means having one end pivotally supported on said pin portion, an anchor post located between said gate post and said second latch post and ofiset, away from said pivot means, beyond a line joining said gate post and said second latch post, a second pivot means supported on a substantially vertical axis from said anchor post substantially at the height of said pin portion, a second link means having one end pivotally supported on said second pivot means, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the other end of said second link means with the other end of said first link means, strand means operatively connected to said pivot pin, and remotely-actuable means for exerting a tensile stress on said strand means to move said pivot pin toward said gate post, whether the distal end of said gate is near said first latch post or said second latch post.

4. The combination with a gate post, a first latch post spaced from said gate post, a second latch post equivalently spaced from said gate post in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said first latch post, and a gate hingedly supported from said gate post, said gate including a substantially horizontal member of substantially cylindrical cross section, of means for controlling the position of the distal endof said gate relative to said latch posts, comprising a clamping sleeve bracket including a substantially cylindrical portion embracing said horizontal member for adjustment peripherally thereof, said bracket being formed to provide a substantially cylindrical socket offset from said firstnamed portion on an axis substantially parallel thereto, pivot means comprising a substantially L-shaped, cylindrical bar having its body clampingly received in said socket for adjustment about the axis of said socket, a first link means having one end pivotally supported on the toe of said bar, an anchor post located between said gate post and said second latch post and ofiset, away from said pivot means, beyond a line joining said gate post and said second latch post, a second pivot means supported on a substantially vertical axis from said anchor post substantially at the height of said first pivot means, a second link means having one end pivotally supported on said second pivot means, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the other end of said second link means with the other end of said first link means, strand means operatively connected to said pivot pin, and remotely-actuable means for exerting a tensile stress on said strand means to move said. pivot .pin..toward said. gate post, ,whether the distal endofsaid. gate is near. said first latch. post or said second latchpost;

5.. The combination with agate post, a..first-latch post. spaced from. saidgate post,. a second latch post equivalently spacedfrom said gate. post in a direction. substantially at. right anglesto the directionof-said first.

latchdpost, .and. a vgate hingedly supported. from said gatetpost ofimeansfor controlling the position: of the distal. endof-said gate relative to said. latch posts,.com-

prisingpi vot: means. comprising abracket clampedto said.

tially perpendicular to the axis of said socket, a firstlinkmeans having, one end. pivotally supported on said pin portion, antanchor post located. between said gate post andisaid secondwlatch post andiofis'et, away from said pivot. means, .beyonda line joining said gate post and.

said secondlatch post, a second. pivot means supported One-8.... substantially vertical axis. from said anchor. post substantially at the height of. said pin portion, a second link means. having; one end pivotally supported". on said second pivot. means, a pivot pinpivotally connecting the other end. of said secondlink means with. the other endofsaid. first link means, a .lever, means supported from said. gate-post. and supporting said lever. for s.- cillationabout an. axis. intermediate its ends, strand means secured. at. one. end to one. arm of said lever and. operatively connected at its other end to said pivot pin, remotely actuable means extending in :one direction from said gate post. and connected to said one leverarm, and remotely actuable meansextending in the oppositedirection from said gate post and .con-.

nected to theother. arm of. said lever.

6. The-combination with a gate post, a first latch post spaced. from said gate post, a. second latch post equivalently spaced from said gate post in. a direction substantiallyvat .right angles to the direction of said first latch. post, and. a gate hingedly supported from saidgate .post,tof. means for. controlling the position. of

the distal end.of.-said gaterelativeito said latch posts, comprising pivot. means comprising. a bracket clamped tosaid gate for adjustment relative thereto about ahorizontahaxis. parallel withthe plane of. saidgate, said bracket .beingiormedtoprovide an ofiset socketon. an axis, substantially parallel with said-first-narned axis, pivot means comprisinga bar adjustably received in said socket and provided-With, a pinportion. having its axissubstantially. perpendicular to the axis of said socket, a first linkmeans having one end pivotally. supported on said pin portion,.an anchor post located between said gate postand said'second latch post and offset, away from said pivot means, beyonda line joining said gate post and said second latch post, a second pivot means supported on a substantiallyvertical axis from said anchor post substantially. at-the height of said pin portion, a second link means havingone end pivotally supported on said second 'pivofmeans, a pivot pin pivotally connecting th'e other end of said second link means With the other end of said first link means, bracket means supported fromsaid gate-post and having a first portion projecting toward said'anchor post and a second portion projecti'ngaway from. said anchor post, strand-guidingmeans carried by.said bracket first portion, a lever supported from. said bracket second portion for oscillation about .an axis intermediate its ends, flexible strand means securedat one endto one arm of said lever, passing through said' strand-guiding means and operatively connected at its other end to said pivot pin, strand means connected to the same arm of said lever and extending away from said gate post to a remote operating station, and further strand means connected to the other arm of said lever and extending past said gate post to another remote. operating, station..

7. The device of claim '6 in which each of said operating stations comprisesa lever,- pivot means supporting said .lever intermediate. its ends for oscillation about a substantially vertical axis, the strand member approaching that station being hired near one end of said lever, the opposite endof said'lever projecting into a position accessible to aroadway' guarded by said gate.

8'. The device of claim"7 which the lever at each operating station is substantially T-shaped, and a cable having one .endsecuredito. the distal end of the T-stem andhavingits other end *removably supported from said opposite lever end.

9. The device 'of claim 8*including a pin supported near said opposite leveriend, and a socketed element removably sleeved 'on said pin, said other cable end being secured to said 'socketedelement;

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